Jurong Region Line Construction: JRL1 year-end update 2023

The 10 JRL Phase 1 stations as of end-2023.

Photos are a big part of our blog and help to tell a better story than we can describe in words. In doing up this year-end recap of the progress made for phase 1 of the Jurong Region Line (JRL), you can expect that it would be anything short of lengthy and full of images. Fair warning for what lies ahead after the jump - a massive photo update spanning across the year.

Before we let you get to the juicy stuff, we'll try to summarise what exactly has been going on along JRL Phase 1. With just over 4 years to go to opening for revenue service, all 6 civil contracts for Phase 1 are in the thick of structural works. This will proceed for about another year before it moves into a less disruptive stage where component installation commences, similar to the stage that the Circle Line 6 is in right now. We also did a mini-series earlier in the year describing the stages of constructing an elevated MRT line, you can check them out here - Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 5 & Stage 6. Right now, this section of the project is in Stage 3.

With that said, to cater for our Instagram feed and make it easier for you to navigate, we've grouped updates for contract J101's Tengah Depot and J102's future in-fill station with the updates for Phase 2. So don't be too surprised when you don't see updates on these two sectors included here. Without further ado, proceed past the jump for more photos & updates across the year!

JS1 - Choa Chu Kang [Contract J102]
Over 2023, we have witnessed the continual rise of the new JRL Choa Chu Kang station. Being built to the west of the existing station complex, the new station's addition will see new platforms being added for the southbound North-South Line (NSL) trains in addition to platforms serving the JRL's two tracks. The concourse will be expanded and the existing station reconfigured drastically. A new mezzanine level will facilitate transfers between the JRL, NSL and Bukit Panjang LRT - in addition to the cross-platform transfers available between northbound JRL and southbound NSL trains.

At the end of 2022, the station's foundations had been completed and work was focused on constructing the utility troughs below the concourse level. However by the end of this year, work had progressed to the creation of the platform level and trackbeds for the JRL, which will be integrated into the station structure - somewhat similar in design to that of the Sengkang-Punggol LRT system.

Further along, viaduct works south of the station section had progressed with the casting of crossheads along the stretch. By the end of the year, the site was being prepared for viaduct segment launching. Due to the tight space where the viaduct has to be constructed, it is likely that a balanced cantilever method will be adopted, allowing for segments to be delivered below the machines without further constraining the car parking space where the site is located. As these works are only beginning at the end of 2023, they are likely to continue well into 2024.

10 December 2022

2 January 2023

23 March 2023

2 June 2023

15 July 2023

13 August 2023

10 September 2023

12 October 2023

18 November 2023

23 December 2023

2 January 2023

24 September 2023

12 October 2023

18 November 2023

23 December 2023

JS02 - Choa Chu Kang West [Contract J102]
Over at the second station under contract J102, work has moved along sufficiently that the station structure can now be easily seen from street level. Where early in the year the station site was a few mere pier columns in the road median, there are now approximately 8 concourse crossheads fully cast out of an anticipated 10. The crossheads will serve to support the concourse level slab which will be suspended across the 10 concourse level crossheads.

Work is progressing along with the casting of several of the viaduct pier crossheads. As there are still numerous viaduct piers without crossheads, this work will undoubtedly extend into 2024 ahead of viaduct span construction. With the launch gantry Mulan being moved from one end of Tengah to the other, we look forward to seeing if the gantry will be used along Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3 for the launching of viaduct segments along the thoroughfare.

2 January 2023

16 April 2023

14 May 2023

2 June 2023

15 July 2023

13 August 2023

10 September 2023

24 September 2023

12 October 2023

18 November 2023

23 December 2023

JS03 - Tengah [Contract J102]
The third station along contract J102 has been a difficult one to document, given its remote location in the middle of a developing new town. Despite Tengah town opening in the latter half of 2023, the views of the station are limited and obstructed by vegetation. The best views thus far have come from Jurong West. Nonetheless, with the viaduct pier construction taking place, the views from this vantage point have also become obstructed, allowing us to only make educated guesses based on what we see in the images captured.

1 January 2023

13 January 2023

12 February 2023

8 April 2023

16 April 2023

7 May 2023

15 June 2023

23 July 2023

12 October 2023

18 November 2023

23 December 2023

JS04 - Hong Kah [Contract J103]
Hong Kah station has been a bit of a laggard when it comes to progress. In the beginning of the year, there were barely any traces of the station's structure being worked on. Over time, the street level columns began emerging. They seemed to stagnate for a moment but then work proceeded on the connecting beams at the mezzanine level. And that's where we are, at the end of 2023. Lots of ground remains to be covered, including the construction of viaduct piers south of the station itself.

1 January 2023

8 April 2023

7 May 2023

15 June 2023

23 July 2023

31 August 2023

12 October 2023

18 November 2023

23 December 2023

JS5 - Corporation [Contract J103]
The second station along contract J103 seems to show more promise and progress. Over the past year, Corporation station has moved from the casting of the concourse level slab to working on the concourse columns and platform level beams. Work at this level has only recently begun, thus not too much can be seen of the permanent structure here yet.

Further north of the station, a launch gantry was lifted into place and subsequently put to work assembling the viaduct spans. The reception tracks will diverge off between the main line just north/east of the station structure, allowing trains to access the Tengah Depot for maintenance and stabling. Work over the year had seen the piers being cast and viaduct spans being constructed between them. As work is still in progress, there does not appear to be any completed spans as yet. These milestones should be achieved in the coming year.

5 February 2023

12 February 2023

7 May 2023

28 May 2023

15 July 2023

13 August 2023

16 September 2023

12 October 2023

18 November 2023

23 December 2023

JS6 - Jurong West [Contract J105]
The sixth station of Phase 1 has seen swift progress. With the piers completed in what used to be the road median, the diverted section of westbound Jurong West Avenue 2 was shifted back to where it was originally located. Work on the station piers then progressed to the concourse level crossheads. Most of these have since been completed and casting of the concourse slab took place. When observing from an aerial viewpoint, one would be able to see the station's concourse slab, including spaces provisioned fro escalators and elevators.

To the west, viaduct span construction kicked off this year. About 4 to 5 spans have since been completed and work is in progress for the viaduct spans stemming from another pier. A trestle system can still be seen on site, used for launching the viaduct segments that are supported by the movement & expansion joint. As the pier is unable to support the weight of a viaduct span segment individually, an external support structure is required. We look forward to seeing more viaduct spans complete construction in the coming year.

5 February 2023

12 February 2023

19 February 2023

7 May 2023

28 May 2023

11 June 2023

15 July 2023

16 September 2023

12 October 2023

18 November 2023

23 December 2023

JS7 - Bahar Junction [Contract J105]
Everyone's favourite confusing station is Bahar Junction. The site for the station has undergone massive changes over the year. With the Peng Kang Hill-bound trackway to utilise a satellite station configuration that suspends over a busy road junction, the station has bewildered many. It may just be possible that motorists passing through the junction do not have any idea of the eventual layout of the station nor why its construction is so complex.

Nonetheless, progress has been made and casting works for the portal beams are about to commence. This work will carry on into 2024 and we look forward to seeing the station climb upwards and over the gap on top of the junction.

5 February 2023

8 April 2023

15 July 2023

30 July 2023

13 August 2023

10 September 2023

8 October 2023

26 November 2023

21 December 2023

JS8 - Boon Lay [Contract J106]

Another complex intersection point is located at Boon Lay station. Here, the station structure has been making good progress on either side of the existing East-West Line (EWL). The JRL station complex will include a north and south lower concourse area with the upper concourse and platform levels being suspended over the existing tracks.

16 December 2022

7 May 2023

20 May 2023

2 June 2023

15 June 2023

6 August 2023

27 August 2023

10 September 2023

24 September 2023

8 October 2023

26 November 2023

21 December 2023

JW1 - Gek Poh [Contract J107]

Located along the northern branch of the line's western route, Gek Poh station serves the neighbourhood before the line crosses the Pan Island Expressway to enter Nanyang Technological University. Squeezing itself in between residential blocks and a commercial precinct, the station has made spectacular progress. Starting off with just station pier columns early in the year, these have since grown and the concourse slab is taking shape. Work is still underway for the installation of the precast crosshead arms, with 6 of the 10 having both sets of arms fully installed.

5 February 2023

12 March 2023

8 April 2023

29 June 2023

30 July 2023

31 August 2023

28 September 2023

8 October 2023

22 October 2023

26 November 2023

21 December 2023

JW2 - Tawas [Contract J107]

Tawas station sits just next to the Cleantech precinct of the Jurong Innovation District. As the station is sited in a greenfield site, its progress this past year has been quick. Work at of the end of the year, has reached the platform level. Casting of the station column up to the platform level is progressing northwards and subsequently precast beams are added in to form the trackbed - as opposed to rebar and concrete pouring being used at other stations. We should be able to tell if this will be standard for side-platform stations once Gek Poh commences construction of its platform level too.

Just to the south of the Tawas station lies the Pan Island Expressway. Piers to support a special span crossing are being constructed on either side of the expressway. The pier on the southern side is at a much more advanced stage of construction, with the pier crosshead being worked on while the northern pier is still at the foundation level at the year's end. 2024 will be an interesting year as the expressway crossing should see the commencement of construction of the viaduct span.

5 February 2023

12 March 2023

8 April 2023

15 June 2023

29 June 2023

30 July 2023

31 August 2023

24 September 2023

8 October 2023

22 October 2023

8 November 2023

23 November 2023

21 December 2023

Phase 1 has made exciting progress and we look forward to catching you up on the progress made in Phases 2 & 3 soon. Thanks for journeying with us and we hope that the updates have been useful to one and all - feel free to let us know what you've enjoyed about our coverage thus far in the comments section. That said, we'd also like to wish you a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year. Happy holidays everyone!

This post will also be available on Instagram & Facebook on 25 December 2023.

Jurong Region Line Construction

Sunday, December 24, 2023

JRL1 year-end update 2023

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